Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-05

 gether in one car, that we might be ready to help each other in case of need. Knight sat near the front door, and says that on looking back he saw that most of our men were pale, yet resolute. The passengers had that Istless and weary air always seen in the early morning on board Q train.
 The conductor, whose name we after ward learned was William A. Fuller, en- tered and began to take the tickets. He looked narrowly at us, for it was an un- common thing for so many persons to en- ter in a body as did at Marietta; besides, Ee had been warned very recently to watch tha.. 70 ccnscripts used his train for the purpose of escaping, and ordered, in case of suspicion, to telegraph for help at once. No doubt we looked soldierly enough, but he afterward told me that he did not suspect us of being conscripts. We also scrutinized him carefully, for it was possible that he might, if his sus- picions were in the least aroused, en- deavor to prevent us from taking his train.
 He was quite young for a conductor, being, as we afterward learned, only 26, though he had been for seven years in that position. He had a frank, genial, but resolute face, was of medium size, auO 1OOkeO 8cClV0 ana SCEOu8.
 We had little leisure for looking at the grand form of Kenesaw mountain, which rose on our left, and around the base of which the road describes almost half circle, and then turns away before it reaches Big Shanty. Here was fought one of the severest battles of the war be- tween Sherman and Johnston; but this, with their prolonged struggle over the whole line of this railway, did not come until two years later. The question of deepest interest to us, and one which would be quickly solved, was, "How much of fight will we have at Big Shantys If the train is left guarded during break fast time we will have to overcome the guards; if anybody sees us going on the engine, and a rush is made to prevent, we will have to fight sharply and at close quarters-the most deadly kind of fight ing" Every revolver had been carefully examined at Marietta before we slept ard every preparation made, so there was nothing to do but to wait as patiently as we could.
 It was thrilling moment when the conductor called out, "Big Shantyl twenty minutes for breakfastl'' and we could see the white tents of the rebel troops and even the guards slowly pacing their beats. Big Shanty now called Kenesaw) had
 
 was breakfast station, and because it had no telegraph office. When Andrews had been here on the previous expedition, few troops were seen, but the number was now greatly increased. It isslifficult to tell just how many were actually here, for they were constantly coming and going; but there seems to have been three or four regiments, numbering not far from 1000 men each. They were en- camped almost entirely on the west side of the road, but their camp guard included the railroad depot. AS soon as the train stopped, the conductor, engineer, fireman, and most of the passengers hurried for breakfast into the long low shed on the east side of the road, which gave the place its name. No guard whatever was left Q fortunate circumstance for us, but not at all unusual on southern roads even when not so well guarded by soldiers as 1 this train was. Now was our opportu- nityl yet for @ moment we were com pelled to keep our seats and wait the ap- pointed signal by our leader. It required a strong effort of will to keep from rush 1 ing forward. We had no desire for eating as we saw the passengers leaving their seats around us and pouring in to break: l fast The moments seemed hours; for we knew that when the signal was given, we | 1luoO oO OuI WOIA HI 1coS tlloA uttll d ull- ute or be slaughtered on the spot; we also | knew that any one of US who failed to get on board with the rest would be lost; but we did not know how long during the twenty minutes Andrews would wait. | anything could be gained by waiting five or ten minutes we were sure that he, with his marvellous coolness, would wait and expect us to do the same. It seemed al
 ready @ considerable interval, for the last passenger who wanted breakfast had Jeff
 the train and disappeared within the room.
 | But Andrews did not mean delay. Ht
 had been absent from the car for time a.
 we came up the road and had only jus
 returned, and taken his seat close to tn, door. Now he quietly rose, and without 1 turning his head toward us, stepped tt the door with the crowd that was pouring | ve-